that damn Cupid
...who or which is the main topic of this site
in any season, let alone this one in the Northern hemisphere,
as the hormones stir a young man's fancy
and an old man's mind...
It's difficult I find, being a poet, and a scientist by training -
you want finality in the experimental results
but you love the constant mystery and beauty of the world,
never quite reached, never quite expressed.
Take this Cupid. Not the actual one,
but the head of Eros, Venus' very active young assistant
obviously under general orders
but with a very free remit under his blindfold -
or so it seems to us who don't get to see
the universal script if such there be.
He's one of the few 'archaic' treasures of Greek art
neatly plundered for the British Museum
in circumstances not to be enquired into -
'saved for civilisation' would be the spin -
but a winged messenger to this house
in no small way.
Which brings the whole matter of the non-material
into question. And which is what some scientists
find a challenge, others try hard to deny with cold facts.
To get to the point. The beloved point.
A reproduction of this little chap
in a mixture of polysomething and marble dust
sits on the table by the window here,
I'm looking at it now. Why do I know
that it's not just anyone's baby, baby,
but Eros himself? (Venus, note, is a mature woman,
Cupid just an innocent (ha!) child...)
The problem, O scientists,
the blessing, O poets,
is that his expression, his intention dammit,
is never the same two seconds together;
and, always two seconds ahead of what
I'm thinking now he's up to...
he's always up to something
and he knows I know it...
and don't exactly know what
and I'm two seconds after him, all the time...
For instance, right now
before I wrote this, I thought it would be good
to give him a wipe.
He submitted to it with the closed eyes of a child
just old enough to submit to having his face wiped
without screwing up his face into a performance;
a beautiful, gentle submission
(for once; first time I've seen him look like this) :
now already, he's up to something - the corner of his mouth
on one side has a mischievous little thought (or maybe not so little)
playing around it; while his eyes are resting within himself
in a meditation on pure wisdom, it seems
(just a second, let me check on him,
you can't leave him for a moment)
aha! that's his game - the sculptor
who trapped him, or thought he'd trapped him -
no - was trapped by him! has seen two sides to his face:
the left side would pass for a meditating Buddha, almost;
almost blind, unknowing, unjudging of all worldly actions;
the right side has an up-to-something muscle-pull
at the corner of the mouth and cheek and eye
which gives that side of his face a look of active goodwill;
put the two sides together, and ha! it looks like mischief;
but more like the divine mischief of Krishna
sporting with his cowgirls.
Is all this the moving theatre of my fantasising mind?
Left and right lobes of the brain in see-saw mode?
I think not. Ikons are famously said to play this game
with the devotee; outer portrayal drawing out one's inner truth;
and here's this Cupid, more alive than I am, I suspect...
allowing me, who have acquired him/been acquired by him,
to watch him as he makes the whole world go round
and conquers all.
But as to warning you in advance
what he's up to with your erotic stirrings this fine Spring morning,
all I can tell you is
he's always on duty; always hatching some new divine mischief;
and I'm always two seconds late in catching his newest
cast
of mind..
poem by Michael Shepherd
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Seconds
All day
Hiding from the sun
Waiting for the golden one
Waiting for your fame
After the parade has gone
Outside was a happy place
Every face had a smile like the golden face
For a second
Your knuckles white as your fingers curl
The shot that was heard around the world
For a second
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds of your time to take his life
Seconds
Seconds
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds
For a second
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds
It took seconds of your time to take his life
It took seconds
For a second
It took seconds of your time to take his life
Seconds of your time to take his life
For a second
For a second
For a second
song performed by by Human League
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Logical Progression
(new perceptions)
You say her love has gone forever
And something has
Gone from your soul
Its left you so cold
Though you wish
You had the answer
The question is always untold
Always on hold
Whats in the mirror
What do you see
Its a logical progression
When you think that
You lost all that time
Its all in your mind
Whats in the mirror
What do you see
Lay down now and close your eyes
Its only just begun
cause mind and body
Flow in perpetual motion
Set free all your memories
Theyre tearing you apart
cause you know that
Love is the only direction
That reputation that you live by
Says something about whats inside
Nowhere to hide
There is no amount of heartache
That could ever
Wash over this burning
Forever learning
Look in the mirror
Will you do it all again
You got time on your side
You know youll find
The truth within you
You got time on your side
As the seconds tick away
Love is waiting for you
You got time on your side
You say her love has gone forever
And the image has left you so cold
Still in your soul
Theres no way
Youre gonna turn back
Youll never wash over this burning
Forever learning
Look in the mirror
Will you do it all again
Lay down now and close your eyes
Its only just begun
cause mind and body
Flow in perpetual motion
You got time on your side
As the seconds tick away
Love is waiting for you
song performed by by Uriah Heep
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Cupid's Mess!
Here comes the valentine day,
The season and time of the year,
When cupid is more busier than ever,
Shooting arrows to young as well as selected old hearts.
Cupid is known to play the game of love,
He with his symbolic bow and arrows,
Is known to ignite love among young hearts,
Creating love confusion is cupid’s favorite game.
His most successful moments,
When hearts become fully dipped in love,
And when their hearts act stronger than their mind,
And when the victims are not in their actual disposition.
So great was the joy of Cupid,
His sense of pride in his success,
To see the pain and excitement of people in love,
So Cupid was called by angels as 'Stupid Cupid'!
10/02/09
Valentine Day's special
poem by Winnie Angel
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Dejavu
when you see a face or place in your mind
and it takes you back in time.
when you feel that you've been there with
someone with whom to share
the joys and sorrows of yesteryear.
for those few seconds when life stood still
and you seemed to be climbing a hill.
just to see whats on the other side.
and what it could possibly be
that something that's attracting me.
in those few seconds you find a life gone by.
but you can't remember-no matter how you try.
then you think its just dejavu.
but! is it really true?
poem by Louis Rams
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Wrong Side Of Love
She said that shes got something else on her mind
Im spending my money, but Im wasting time
It looks to me like the end of the line
Well, she plays both sides and shes making me choose
Its heads, she wins, and tails I lose
Each time I call, its another excuse
I thought I was finally doin everything right
Now it looks like Im the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin end
The wrong side of love
Now Im starting all over again
She makes me feel like Im out of control
She comes on hot but she turns ice cold
Her light says stop when Im ready to go
She set me up, now shes puttin me down
Sometimes I feel like a face in the crowd
One day Im in, the next day Im out
I picked the wrong side of love
Right place, wrong time
The wrong side of love
Well honey, point me in the right direction
I picked the wrong side of love
Is there a bad side to love?
I picked the wrong side of love
The wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
song performed by by Cheap Trick
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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17
17 seconds of compassion
17 seconds of peace
17 seconds to remember love is the energy
behind which all is created
17 seconds to remember all that is good
17 seconds to forget all your hurt and pain
17 seconds of faith
17 seconds to trust you again
17 seconds of radiance
17 seconds to send a prayer up
17 seconds is all you really need
song performed by by Smashing Pumpkins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This Calm Turmoil
so, seconds and seconds passed
in my life
although every time I want to always be beside you
see your face
shaded
always
I feel lost
I'm not on your side every
o, the turmoil of young blood
heady
segaligus disturbing
and no drug that
This calm turmo
poem by Prasetya Utama
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Multiverse
An eternal mystery
Has been discovered
It is now reality
Never say never
I've been working hard
Down in my basement
I don't know where I am
Where I've been sent
Now if I get it right
I'm trapped in the other side
Esoteric questions
Have been answered
What really matters
Is the anti-matter
Now am I lost in time?
Or caught in the other side
In parts or whole
I'm in this hole
Will I spend my life?
Locked in the other side
The Multiverse
I've moved the time from space
Based on action
I've made only one mistake
I tried it on
If I get it right
I'm trapped in this other side
In parts or whole
I'm all alone
Am I lost in time?
Or caught in this other side
It's in my head
I might be dead
Am I losing my mind?
Locked in this other side
I am losing my mind
Forever, this other side
The Multiverse
song performed by by Voivod
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Frustrating Seconds
These seconds of time that seem so small
really are not that small at all.
They continuously add up to a minute.
Sixty seconds later and all that's within it
is larger as they pass.
And then they add up to an hour.
Now those seconds have more power.
They move along and soon there'll be
another day gone from you with me.
Seconds, minutes, hours and days
have grown so long in heartfelt ways.
They leave me wondering just how long
these drawn out seconds did me wrong?
I'd love to bundle them up real tight
and little by little squeeze them at night.
And when the dawn is here again
remember all of them and say Amen.
I do not wish my life away.
I just want those seconds to go their way.
Let them add up for another fool.
For these seconds for me are much too cruel.
I don't need seconds, minutes or hours
to remind me of eternity.
I will not count the time anymore
for all it contains is the misery
of being away from you.
poem by Edwina Reizer
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The World Before Later On
I'm trapped in a world before later on,
I'm trapped in a world before later on,
Where's my hovercraft?
Where's my jet pack?
Where's the font of acquired wisdom that eludes me now?
We're trapped in a world before later on,
We're trapped in a world before later on,
Where's our telray?
Where's our space face?
Where are all the complications we won't see around?
song performed by by They Might Be Giants
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Ticking Clock....
Overwhelmed.....just need a place to sit....
the thoughts in my mind,
well....they just won't quit!
Funny how a clock can grab my attention,
you know.....
the kind with the seconds...
counting down.
As I loose my mind in thoughts of the day,
that click...the seconds....
I have to weigh...
I'm here...
I'm now...
then seconds are clicking....
So I have a thought.
Why am I wasting now?
Just how do I love this second?
I don't want to waste precious time....
the clock makes me hear my stupid whine....
Damn you ticking clock! ! !
Trapped In A Box
Trapped in a box of tremendous size
It distorts my vision, it closes my eyes
Attracts filthy flies and pollutes in the skies
Sucks up our lives and proliferates lies
Trapped in a box
Trapped in a box, four walls as sky
Got a screen for a window about two feet wide
My mind rides and slides as my circuits are fried
No room for thought, use the box as my guide
Trapped in a box
Trapped in a box
Watch the world as it flocks
To lifes paradox
Were all trapped in a box
Trapped in a box Im not alone
I know of others with a box as their home
Light only enters from a crack or a hole
This is not enough for a human to grow
Trapped in a box
Chorus: always wanting a different view
Instant gratification for you
Reality gone in a single click
Just hope that that switch wont stick
Trapped in a box my life becomes void
All I thought for myself is now destroyed
Controlling my mind, what to eat, what to buy
Sublinal rules: how to live, how to die
Trapped in a box
song performed by by Gwen Stefani
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seven Seconds Away [Collaboration with Miranda Mabuto]
Slow down pretty woman,
We are almost there,
We have walked a million miles,
We cant fail a single mile away,
Open your heart
For love is approaching you
Slow down pretty lady,
We have had a million smiles,
You are almost mine,
Open your heart almost lover,
Together we will be fine
Come along my angel,
Its me and you in this world
We can never go astray
Babie nomore delay
We are just seven seconds away
Its seven seconds away,
Seven seconds away in our way,
Me and you against the world,
In seven seconds it will be us
Its now we, nomore I and you
Come along babie in seven seconds
Hold me and go away with me,
From the cruel world shall we flee,
Me and you a happy heart
Running in the fields like the flock
Be calm my love, watch the clock
Seven seconds away
Seven seconds away,
Seven seconds astray,
Babie come my way
Yes, for a perfect get away
Its only seven seconds away
Nomore wait and delay,
The dancefloor will be soon ours,
Hold my waist come lets play,
I will dry the tears you cry
We are just seven seconds away
poem by Gaylord Munemo
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Young Turks
(rod stewart / carmine appice, kevin savigar, duane hitchings)
Billy left his home with a dollar in his pocket and a head full of dreams.
He said somehow, some way, its gotta get better than this.
Patti packed her bags, left a note for her momma, she was just seventeen,
There were tears in her eyes when she kissed her little sister goodbye.
They held each other tight as they drove on through the night they were so exited.
We got just one shot of life, lets take it while were still not afraid.
Because life is so brief and time is a thief when youre undecided.
And like a fistful of sand, it can slip right through your hands.
Young hearts be free tonight. time is on your side,
Dont let them put you down, dont let em push you around,
Dont let em ever change your point of view.
Paradise was closed so they headed for the coast in a blissful manner.
They took a tworoom apartment that was jumping evry night of the week.
Happiness was found in each others arms as expected, yeah
Billy pierced his ears, drove a pickup like a lunatic, ooh!
Young hearts be free tonight.time is on your side,
Dont let them put you down, dont let em push you around,
Dont let em ever change your point of view.
[instrumental verse]
Young hearts be free tonight.time is on your side.
Billy wrote a letter back home to pattis parents tryin to explain.
He said were both real sorry that it had to turn out this way.
But there aint no point in talking when theres nobody listning so we just ran away
Patti gave birth to a ten pound baby boy, yeah!
Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side.
Young hearts be free tonight, time is on your side.
Young hearts be free tonight, time in on your side.
Young hearts gotta run free, be free, live free
Time is on, time is on your side
Time, time, time, time is on your side
Is on your side
Is on your side
Is on your side
Young heart be free tonight
Tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, tonight, yeah
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Two Sides To Every Story
There are two sides to every story
Not just the side of them or theirs,
So never judge or hold a grudge
And when you listen, please listen with care.
Listen to one side and then always the other
Not just one side and then walk away
If you pick that route, sad you'll turn out
And never will you ever feel or be the same.
You will hate yourself as truth be told
If you listen to only one side of the story
You'll live in disgrace, when you see your face
And never will you fill satisfaction or joy.
As time will come, and of course time will tell
Someday the truth it will all come out
And when it you do hear, will you shed a tear
As you found out you took the wrong route.
There is two sides to every story
Not just the side that you want to hear
And not from their soul, that you do not know
And not from someone who will cry you a tear.
When you listen, please listen well
No matter if they be friend or foe
Look into their eyes, then you might realize
And then the truth might just be known.
To condemn someone is such a terrible act
Which you must live with the rest of your life
You will live in shame, for someone you falsely blamed
And always you will question yourself why.
A pretty face or a sad sad story
Guilt either begins or ends with that line
As a pretty face, it can mask lies or hate
Then the truth through deception is left behind.
There are two sides to every story
I must preach that statement once again
Listen to both sides, then the judgment you can decide
And happy you will be in the end
As you cannot judge a book by it's cover
No matter what you might hear or what might be said
As so many will lie, so that to get pity on their side
While untruth and deception they will had led.
A saddened face is just a saddened story
There is more to the truth to one persons story
Don't falsely judge, if so even GOD will hold a grudge
Then far away you will be from his glory.
When you listen to a story listen with your soul
Never be afraid to ask a question or even ask why
And always seek the truth, as you would seek out good fruit
And remember to every story there is always another side.
Randy L. McClave
poem by Randy McClave
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I Am Thinking Of You
Beloved,
I am thinking of you..
Like always..
The seconds mingling into minutes,
Hours, days, weeks and mighty years.
And in my thoughts
I wonder,
If you too someplace,
Are thinking of me
The seconds mingling into minutes,
Hours, days, weeks and mighty years.
Do you too,
Get up parched..
In the middle of the night,
Missing me..
Catch the moon by the window sill,
And solace in the thought,
That someplace I might also be there..
Parched..
Catching the moon by the window sill?
Might be….
Do you too,
Sometimes,
Look at the empty place near you
And wish,
If only my love was there!
And catching a sigh of acrid air
Smile at the thought,
That someplace I too am breathing
The same air?
Might be….
Do you too,
Follow the tick tock of the time piece
and wonder whether I am getting dressed,
working..
or getting ready for a walk.
or am plain brooding..
waiting for your eyes, your touch,
your voice, your laugh, your love?
Might be…..
Might be you do the the things I do…
Might be you have your separate way…
Might be you are totally different…
Might be you may not at all think of me…
Yet, all I can do is think more of you..
cause...
For you it's the whole world out there..
For me, my whole world is here..
With you….in you…
Beloved,
I am thinking of you..
Like always..
poem by Anjali Kakati
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Great Spirits
When the earth was young
And the air was sweet
And the mountains kissed the sky
In the far beyond, with its many paths
Man and nature lived side by side
The pretty wisdom does not come without learning
And revision not wholly with our eyes
We can think that we see
Truly see you're around us
But when we look
Do we see with open minds?
Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Fill our hearts and souls with all you know
The key to understanding
Is to see through others' eyes
Find a way to help us
See from all sides
Truly see from all sides
Teach our children to look deeper than the surface
See the world through another's eyes
For to be blind me on yourself
Is to look but not see it
Knowing much is not enough to be wise
To see the wonder
In all we've been given
In a world that's not always as it seems
On the part that we choose
Turn every corner
Follow on, for another begins
Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Fill our hearts and souls with all you know
Key to understanding
Is to see through others' eyes
Find a way to help us
See from all sides
Truly see from all sides
Great Spirits of all who lived before
Take our hands and lead us
Fill our hearts and souls with all you know
Key to understanding
Is to see through others' eyes
Find a way to help us
See from all sides
Truly see from all sides
See from all sides
song performed by by Phil Collins
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Free
we are marching,
side by side,
heads down,
in oppressive silence.
trapped in small places,
confined by our faces.
numbered, and lined up
to face the glare of darkness.
i am human, dammit!
i am a man,
i am alive!
my spirit cannot be contained
in cages of ownership
and servitude.
i will not be your boy!
i am free!
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Lost Without You
I know I can be a little stubborn sometimes
A little righteous and too proud
I just want to find a way to compromise
Cos I believe that we can work things out
I thought I had all the answers
Never giving in
But baby since you've gone
I admit that I was wrong
All I know is I'm lost without you
I'm not gonna lie
How am I gonna be strong without you
I need you by my side
If we ever said we'll never be together
and we ended with goodbye
Don't know what I'd do
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to find my way
but all I know is
Im lost without you
I keep trying to face the day
Lost without you
Am I ever gonna get rid of these blues?
Baby i'm so lonely all the time
Everywhere I go I get so confused
You're the only thing that's on my mind
Oh my beds so cold at night
I miss you more each day
Only you can make it right
No I'm not too proud to say
All I know is I'm lost without you
I'm not gonna lie
How Am I gonna be strong without you
I need you by my side
If we ever said we'll never be together
and we ended it with goodbye
Don't know what I'd do
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to find my way
And all I know is
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to face the day
I'm lost without you
If I could only hold you now
Make the pain just go away
Can't stop the tears from running down my face
oh
All I know is I'm lost without you
I'm not gonna lie
How my I gonna be strong without you
I need you by my side
If we ever said we'll never be together
and we ened it with goodbye
Don't know what I'd do
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to find my way
And all I know is
I'm lost without you
I keep trying to face the day
Lost without your love
I keep trying to find my way
And all I know is
I'm lost without you
i'm Lost without you
song performed by by Darren Hayes
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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On The Road To Find Out
Well I left my happy home to see what I could find out
I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out
Well I hit the rowdy road and many kinds I met there
Many stories told me of the way to get there
So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
Theres so much left to know, and Im on the road to find out
Well in the end Ill know, but on the way I wonder
Through descending snow, and through the frost and thunder
Well, I listen to the wind come howl, telling me I have to hurry
I listen to the robins song saying not to worry
So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
Theres so much left to know, and Im on the road to findout
Then I found myself alone, hopin someone would miss me
Thinking about my home, and the last woman to kiss me, kiss me
But sometimes you have to moan when nothing seems to suit yer
But nevertheless you know youre locked towards the future
So on and on you go, the seconds tick the time out
Theres so much left to know, and Im on the road to findout
Then I found my head one day when I wasnt even trying
And here I have to say, cause there is no use in lying, lying
Yes the answer lies within, so why not take a look now?
Kick out the devils sin, pick up, pick up a good book now
song performed by by Cat Stevens
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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